🙋🏾♀️Shalom sisters!
💁🏾♀️We left off last time where Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah.. although he loved and was promised Rachel. I sometimes wish we can hear what Leah was feeling in that moment her father told her put on your sister’s wedding garment and do not speak.. 😞...but👆🏾one thing we KNOW her actions were obedient. Scripture doesn’t say that questioned her father (remember those days we followed whatever they said).. BUT I wonder if she questioned herself.. IF u read this scripture before on their story.. then we know she most likely did have a thing for Jacob.. because she wanted his love so badly.. BUT we will speak on that in the FINAL ACT! Ok so 2 things we saw here: her father had other intentions and tried to justify it by saying well you know in our land the elder daughter must be married 1st...😒 sooo why didn’t he propose that to Jacob at first... No.. because he knew he needed that servitude from Jacob and used his desire to have Rachel against him.. ok that’s too much right there lol... let’s jump into this scriptures!!
🔁Genesis 29:25-31 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
👉🏾Here we see Jacob agreed to serve another 7 years to have Rachel.. so Laban kept that deal and allowed Jacob after he gave Leah her seven days of the bridal feast (in Judges 14 this is also confirmed that it was apart of our culture) that he can then have Rachel. Jacob agreed. I often think about what was Leah thinking about knowing that her husband was tricked into being with her.. did she feel some kind of way knowing he really wanted Rachel..and how would that dynamic look like after the 7 days... because then he took Rachel as his 2nd wife as promised .. I thought about the chitter chatter that she may have experienced about how she was not Jacob’s 1st choice.. Just comparing to this time some things some women may think.. my favorite scripture comes to mind.. of what Leah was thinking about:
🧕🏾Why didn’t Leah say anything: I mean this was her life to RIGHT? Afterall, Jacob was now HER husband RIGHT? Why doesn’t she have a say so..I mean.. this still is HER day. Well, glad you ask: Ecclesiasticus 26:14 A silent and loving woman is a gift of the Lord; and there is nothing so much worth as a mind well instructed- AND while She was maybe not seen as a gift in the eyes of Jacob..because she wasn’t his 1st choice... The Most was word never comes back void! Her silence was iconic and it only enhanced her true BEAUTY.. and she was HIS 1st choice ... 🥰🙏🏾🙌🏾#somebodywillgetitlater
🧐 BUT Why didn’t she refuse to go with the scheme in the first place AND why didn’t she just run away after Jacob actions proved he really loved Rachel and that’s who he wanted... Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands- Before she was A wife.. she was still apart of her father’s house.. Jacob servitude is building her family inheritance..so to go against her father.. would be dishonoring his house.. hence tearing it down. She wasn’t that bold to run away-Ecclesiasticus 22:5 👇🏾She that is bold 👈🏽👉🏾dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.. This needs NO explanation! BUT it explains why Leah is such a jewel... she is so selfless..
BUT Why was she ok with being a 1st wife.. (which should be an honor.) BUT 2nd choice: Even though it was our culture.. Her Father chose this path for her... why didn’t she have a say?? However, I see why Humble Leah didn’t complain: Proverbs 21:19 - [It is] better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman..
😌So we see we don’t see too much of Leah complaining, rebuttaling, or venting Sis was just... literally!... because I can see how she could have felt like she had to...but reading this a fifth time... she was righteous in all her actions EVEN in the act of unrighteousness. What’s interesting is After Jacob and his mom tricked his father and stole his brother’s birthright ... Laban basically did the same thing to him.. AND this is a perfect example of The Most High will... and what goes around comes around not my words.. Matthew 7:12! So even so, Laban act was not righteous according to many scriptures! You are supposed to pay a man what you owe and you are not supposed to defraud your brother! But In the end.. ROMANS 8:28!!
See...Leah played the hand that she was dealt because why? Do you think she KNEW that The End was expected? Jeremiah 29:11! Or that Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord... was her protection? but from who?! I read this with a new set of eyes sisters.. AFTER I stepped out of my emotions because this one is one that dealt with me.. but NOW it makes sense!!🥰
Let’s find out why next time!!
🎬UP NEXT FINAL ACT 4: LEAH- CONCEIVABLE